AI-generated illustration; not a photograph of the reported event.
- calendar_today October 30, 2026
Washington State Issues Fine for Serious Worker Safety Lapses
The Nippon Dynawave paper mill in Longview, Washington, has been fined $77,800 by the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) after investigators found serious worker safety violations related to a hazardous spill incident in March 2026. The mill, already known for a previous tank failure in May, is again under scrutiny following a significant workplace safety lapse.
Details of the Incident and Regulatory Findings
The worker safety violations stem from an incident in which a worker fell into a four-foot-deep sinkhole full of hot liquid pulp while on duty. The event occurred after a tank valve was mistakenly left open, causing hot pulp to spill onto the ground and create a hole in the asphalt. In an attempt to close the open valve and stop the spill, a worker climbed onto piping but then fell into the newly formed sinkhole when trying to return to the ground.
The temperature of the hot pulp the worker was exposed to was approximately 145 degrees Fahrenheit — a level comparable to hot coffee — posing significant risk of burns and other injuries. The worker became stuck in the hot liquid pulp and later recounted to investigators that he feared for his life during the ordeal, as the engulfing substance covered most of his body.
Labor Department’s Response and Penalties
Following an investigation, L&I cited Nippon Dynawave with two separate safety violations. The most severe, classified as a "willful serious" violation, was issued for exposing employees to thermal and engulfment hazards and carries a penalty of $74,910, along with a directive to implement corrections by December 1. The second violation, classified as "serious," was for failing to use a hazardous piping program in its paper machine pulp process, resulting in a $2,890 fine and a similar notice to correct by December 1.
"The problem wasn’t that the overspill happened," explained Cari Anderson, deputy assistant director for L&I’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health, "it’s that Nippon management chose to send people into the pulp to deal with it." The agency emphasized that appropriate procedures for worker protection were not followed during the response to the hazardous spill.
Nippon Dynawave’s Actions and Commitment to Improvement
Since the incident, Nippon Dynawave management has reportedly agreed not to send employees into areas where spills have occurred and to create new procedures and controls designed to close valves safely, without exposing employees to risk. In response to requests for comment, a company spokesperson confirmed that Nippon conducted a full internal investigation after the incident and has taken corrective action.
Broader Implications for Industrial and Worker Safety
The fines and citations issued to Nippon Dynawave underscore the ongoing challenges in ensuring industrial safety and the importance of robust occupational safety procedures in hazardous environments such as paper mills. Regulatory scrutiny from agencies like L&I reflects a broader mandate to hold industrial operators accountable for worker safety, proper response protocols during hazardous spills, and implementation of effective worker protection measures.
Source: koin.com.
